Many major Japanese companies are concerned about slumps in their earnings for the current business year after enjoying record-high profits in the previous year thanks in part to the yen's plunge and price hikes.
The combined net profit at listed companies that closed their books in March is estimated to have hit a record high for the third straight year.
Still, personal spending has been sluggish as the price increases of imported products stemming from the yen's depreciation are keeping inflation high.